The Challenges of Changing Careers

After Olympian Sasha Cohen failed to qualify for the 2010 Olympics, she suddenly found herself “retired” from figure skating, and lost direction in her life. At the young age of 25, Cohen had to figure out what to do next. Having worked with people leaving jobs or changing careers, I think that she perfectly captures the pleasure of a post-transition “vacation” that slowly falls flat, and the importance of finding new goals and a new sense of purpose.

Like many Olympians, Cohen feels that her formal education, in her case homeschooling, was deficient on certain levels. Despite that, Cohen used the drive and grit that she attained through all her years training for the Olympics and landed on her feet. Despite not entering college until the age of 26 and accepting her first summer internship at the age of 29, Cohen persevered and can now say she’s an Olympic silver medalist AND a financial analyst. It’s important in life to find new goals and a new sense of purpose and Cohen certainly succeeded – congratulations to her. To read more about her incredible story, click here.